Bud Porter headed from his Hilton Head Island, S.C., home to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler on Sunday expecting to honor his fellow veterans.

What caught the 91-year-old World War II veteran completely by surprise, however, was being called to step forward and accept a certificate of honor and a custom vest from the American Legion Post 322.

Click here to view a Spotted gallery of the surprise ceremony for Porter at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler.

The West Chatham post chose him as its veteran of the year.

"You know, all I do is represent those who didn't make it back," Porter said at the podium after receiving his plaque and donning the leather vest with patches representing his time serving in the Eighth Air Force, then part of the Army, as a ball turret gunner. "I try to represent them, and that's all I do - represent those who didn't make it. Thank you."

Joseph Garcia, the post's adjutant, said he came up with the idea to surprise Porter on Veterans Day back in July. Keeping the secret from Porter, he said, was difficult because Porter volunteers at the museum, which also serves as home base to the post.

Garcia, who served in Korea and Vietnam, said he felt that veterans don't get enough recognition today, and that it's especially important to honor those who fought in World War II as their numbers are beginning to dwindle.

"People forget," Garcia said. "And to be honest with you, most of the veterans around today are getting old."

That's a fact with which Porter can relate. He said he came to view the other eight members of his crew as a second family, the members of which he's seen pass away over the years.

"That was tough because all of us were kids at the time and we had a lot of fun together," he said. "Each one slowly but surely passed on. ...I'm the last survivor."

Despite his humility, the former sergeant said being honored at the museum at which he's been a presence for years was a proud moment.

"I'm flattered and honored," Porter said. "... You're looking at a guy that's not used to getting awards."

Though Porter has done a lot with his life since World War II, such as going to college on the GI Bill and embarking on a career with General Motors, he still remembers deciding to go to war.

"I just happened to be the right age and the music got to me, and I couldn't wait to enlist," he said.

Bloomingdale Veterans Monument on the way

Honoring Porter wasn't the only item on Post 322's agenda Sunday. Legion members headed from the museum in Pooler to Bloomingdale to assist breaking ground on that west Chatham city's forthcoming veterans monument.

Dozens of locals - veterans and public service members included - gathered in the empty lot off U.S. 80 at Cherry Street to not only break ground, but to also remember those who served in the U.S. armed forces.

Click here to view a Spotted gallery of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bloomingdale Veterans Monument.

About 30 veterans - some city officials included - from conflicts dating from World War II to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were called to stand and be honored at the ceremony. Following the commemoration, city officials, members of Post 322 and others picked up shovels and broke ground on what's planned to be a five-sided concrete and marble monument facing U.S. 80.

"I think it brings the community together. It represents the freedoms that we have to be here today for this event," said Bloomingdale Mayor Wayne Tipton, who served in the Navy during the 1960s. "At the recognition that we had at the Mighty Eighth, (Porter) said he represents all the fallen folks who didn't make it home, and this represents them as well as the ones who went and served so we have the freedom to be here today."

BANNER FOR THE TROOPS

Visitors of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler over the next several weeks can sign a banner at the entrance for deployed troops. About two weeks before Christmas, said museum spokeswoman Brandy Mai, the banner and all its encouraging words will be rolled up and sent to an as-yet undetermined deployed local unit. "...We'd like for our troops both home and deployed to know that we support them and we're behind them," she said.